Easel



lTNE v .July 11 944. s. P. MOORE 2,353, v

EASEL Filed Jan. 8, 1942 :IIHHHHHH INVENTOR 4 eweu P17100749 7 BY I 7 #12 ATWRNEYS Patented July 11, 1944 EASEL Sewell'P. Moore, Palisade, N. J., assignor to Richard Heinz, New York, N. Y.

Application January 8, 1942, Serial No. 426,060

4 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved easel.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved easel which may be used for many different purposes, such as display or advertising purposes, or for art purposes.

A further object is the provision of an improved easel of the above character which is simple, inexpensive, but, nevertheless rugged construction, which can be readily assembled and dismantled, which, when assembled, is sturdy and is firmly held in upright position, and which, when dismantled, occupies a minimum space.

Other objects will be apparent from the following detailed description of the drawing, in which Fig. l is a perspective view from the rear of an easel embodying my invention showing it in assembled relationship;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the easel;

Fig. 3 is a detail fragmentary view of the upper central portion of the display panel showing the manner in which it is engaged by the bracing and supporting standard;

Fig. 4 is a detail fragmentary view of the lower central portion of the display panel showing the manner in which it is engaged by the bracing and. supporting standard;

Figs. 5 and 6 are cross-sectional views in the directions of the arrows on the lines 55 and 6-6, respectively, of Figs. 3 and 4;

Fig. 7 is a view of the bracing and supporting standard;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the display panel; and

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 5 of a modified type of construction for the frame strip of the display panel.

My easel comprises a display panel In and a bracing and supporting standard H, which may be assembled together to produce a complete easel, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or may be dismantled when not in use or for shipping or packing purposes so as to occupy a minimum of space, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

The display panel comprises a sheet l2 of any desired size, of flexible material, such as paper, cloth, fabric, regenerated cellulose, cellulose acetate, or the like, and secured to the upper and lower edges are the frame strips I4, made of some rigid material of suificient strength to lend support to the panel, such as wood. The frame strips are of similar construction, and are provided with suitable means for interengagement with the bracing and supporting standard. For this purpose I preferably provide each strip with a cut-out or recess I5 through the central portion thereof, extending over the'inner corner, i. e., the corner remote from the upper and lower edges at the back of the strip. Extending inwardly from the center of each cut-out portion or recess I5, is a socket I5 which is formed with a rounded base or inner surface and is dis posed at an angle depending to a great extent on the relative length of the standard H and the angle at which it engages the sockets.

In Figs. 1 to 8, I have shown a right angle cutout or recess 15 cut at right angles to the edges of strips l4. Instead of forming the recess in this fashion, I may provide a right angle recess !5' with its edges cut parallel to, and at right angles to the socket IS. This has the advantage that it facilitates the sawing of the socket when the socket is made by a saw-cut.

The bracing and supporting standard is preferably formed of a unitary strip of flexible resilient material which may be flexed or bent and will assume its original position when released. I have found that wood is satisfactory for this purpose.

The upper portion ll of the standard is formed in one piece and is provided with a projecting tab 18 of a size and shape to fit snugly into one of the sockets IS. The lower portion is suitably divided longitudinally, as by a saw cut terminating in a circular aperture, into two portions l9 and 20. The portion i9 is preferably slightly longer than the portion 29 and has a rounded end of a size and shape to fit snugly into one of the sockets H5. The proportionate length of the bifurcated portion of the standard may vary, but it preferably occupies at least half of the length. In the illustrated embodiment, it occupies a little more than two-thirds of the length.

At this time I would like to point out that the length of the recesses I5 is preferably somewhat greater than the width of standard II, as this facilitates assembling the device.

In assembling the device, the panel I!) is first fully extended and the upper end of the standard and the lower end of the portion I9 are inserted in the recesses or cut-out portions, and then slid back and forth until the sockets 15 are engaged. The device will then appear as shown in Figs. 1 and 2,. and will be retained firmly in upright position. The device may be dismantled by releasing the engagement of the standard with the sockets. The display panel may be collapsed into compact form and the standard placed parallel thereto so as to occupy a minimum amount of space.

While I have illustrated and described pre-' ferred embodiments of my invention, modifica-- tions may be made therein without departing from the invention as set forth in the accom panying claims.

I claim:

1. An easel or the like, comprising a display panel formed of a flexible sheet of material and having a frame strip along its upper and lower edges, a unitary bracing and supporting standard having a portion releasably engageable with'the frame strips for holding the panel in extended relationship and for supporting it in an upright position, said 'frame strips being formed with elongated recesses in their confronting edges and with sockets adapted to accommodate the ends of the bracing and supporting standard extending angularly inwardly from the central portion of the recesses, and the recesses being of greater width than the end of the standard so that the said ends may slide laterally therein until engaged in the sockets.

2. An easel or the like comprising a display panel formed of a flexible sheet of material and having a frame strip along its upper and lower edges and a bracing and supporting standard formed of a unitary flat strip of flexible resilient material having an upper portion formed in one piece and a, lower portion divided longitudinally into two portions positioned side by side, both connected directly to the upper portion, the central portion of said frame strips being provided with elongated recesses in their confronting edges and with sockets adapted to accommodate the upper portion and one of the lower portions of the standard when the upper portion and one of the lower portions thereof are bowed so as to retain the display panel in extended position and so as to support it in upright position, said elongated recesses extending angularly inwardly from the central portion of the recesses, the recesses being of greater width than the ends of the standard so that said ends may slide laterally therein until engaged in the sockets.

3. An easel or the like comprising a display panel formed of a flexible sheet of material and having a frame strip along its upper and lower edges, the frame strips each having a recess in their confronting faces and a socket extending angularly inwardly from the central portion of each recess, and a supporting standard having portions for releasably and snugly engaging the sockets, and the recesses being of such a width that the standard may shift laterally therein until the said portions are engaged in the sockets. 4. An easel as set forth in claim 3 in which the sides of the recess are disposed at right angles to each other and at right angles and parallel respectively to the said socket.

SEWELL P. MOORE. 

